Combined ash-chute and underfire



(No Model.)

A..- STR'ETTON.

COMBINED ASH CHUTE-AND UNDERHRB;` No. 55H74. Patented Dec. 10, 1895..

Vof the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR STRETTON, OF VVAVERLY, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHAS. A. MILLEN COMPANY,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED ASH-CHUTE AND UNDERFIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,174, dated December10, 1895.

Application led January l 9,1 8 95.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR STRETTON, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Vaverly, county of Middlesex, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in a Combined Ash-Chute andUnderiire, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a combined underfireand ashchute for open fireplaces, whereby a solid foundation for theiireplace is attained without the use of tiling, dac., and providinglmeans for disposing of the ashes without the liability of their beingblown into the room by the back-draft.

By my invention I overcome the derangement of parts and dangerousloosening of joints due to unequal settling of the fireplace, and this Iaccomplish by making the underiire of a single piece of iron or otheriireproof refractory material, the ash-chute preferably forming anintegral partthereof, the underfire resting on the masonry of theash-duct and chimney, and the sides and back of the fireplace are builtupon the upper surface of the underfire.

In accordance therewith my invention consists in an underiire having anopening therein, a cover-plate hinged at one edge of the opening andextended underneath the underiire, and an ash-chute below the underireand its opening and having an outlet in the path of and to be closed bythe extension of the cover when the latter is lifted, substantially aswill be described.V

Other features of my invention will be hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a top or plan view of a iireplace with my invention appliedthereto, the back and side walls 0f the ireplace and the chimney-backbeing shown in section. Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section taken onthe line x, Fig. l, looking to the right. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view of the underlire and ash-chute with the cover of thechute partially open, and Fig. 4 is an under side view Serial110.535,574. (No model.)

I have herein shown the underiire as a plate a of metal or otherrefractory iireproof material, of a suitable shape and size to supportthe back and side walls b and h of the iireplace, the underfire aresting upon the masonry of the ash-duct A and chimney. (Shown insection in Fig. 4.) v

An opening cd is made in the underre, toward its front edge and midwaybetween its sides, with its sides preferably slightly beveled inwardly,and under said opening an ash-chute d? is located, preferably madeintegral with the plate a, the inclined bottom a3 of the chute slopingrearwardly and downwardly from the front edge of said opening, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A cover-plate c is pivoted at c' in theunderflre, to normally close the opening a, the edges of the coverfitting snugly therein. The under side of the plate a is recessed at dx,(see Fig. 3,) at the back of the opening a', to receive therein theextension c2 of the cover c when the latter is in its normal closedposition, Figs. l, 2, and 4. The extension c2 is of sufficient area toclose the delivery end of the ash-chute when the cover c is raised, asshown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the inclined bottom a2 of the chuteextending to a point substantially beneath the pivots c of the cover, tothereby form a closed receptacle into which the ashes may be sweptthrough the opening a', the chute when thus closed holding about anordinary burning of coal or wood ash.

As the receptacle is closed there is no backdraft to blow the ashesabout or to scatter them about the room,as they are swept through theopening a, and as the closing of the cover c opens the chute bywithdrawing the eXtension c2 therefrom the ashes are free to slide dovmover the bottom a2 into the ash-duct A to a proper point of discharge,without making a cloud of dust as would be caused by dumping theashesdirectly out of the chute. The cover c is slightly heavier than theeX- tension c2 and thereby is normally kept closed, and for conveniencein raising it it is provided with a lip cx, a shallow recess or pocketd4 in the upper surface of the underfire a permitting the insertion of asuitable device beneath the lip CX.

Inasmuoh as the underfire a rests on the IOO masonry of the ash-duet Aand the adjacent wall of the chimney, parts of the latter niay settlewithout causing a separation of the joints of the fireplace ortrimmer-arch, for the fireplace is built upon and sustained by theunderfire, which forms a iirln and solid foundation therefor. Thisobviates the settling of one part of the fireplace more than another, asis the case frequently when one part is built on the chimney-breast andanother part on the trimmer-arch.

No tiling, hearth-brick, dac., is necessary, and the ash-chute, being anintegral part of the underfire, cannot become loosened therefrom bysettling or burning out of joints.

It will be obvious that as the cover cis pivotally supported at its rearedge, and lifts to uncover the opening a', it cannot be accidentallyopened by the weight of anything placed thereon,such as an andiron, agrate, tbc.

I claiml. An underfire having an opening therein, a cover plate hingedat one edge of' the opening and extended underneath the underfire, andan ash-chute below the underiire and its opening and having an outlet inthe path of and to be closed by the extension of the cover when thelatter is lifted, substantially as described.

2. An underiire having an opening therein, a cover hinged at one edge ofthe opening and extended underneath the underfire away from the opening,and an ash-chute below the opening, the bottom of said chute incliningrearwardly from the front edge of the opening to beneath the pivotalpoint of the cover, to form a vertical outlet thercat in the path of'the cover extension, to be closed thereby when the cover is lifted,substantially as described.

3. An underiire for fireplaces, consisting of a rigid plate'of iireproofmaterial forming the bottom of the fire place and having an ashdischarge opening therein, and a hinged nor-' inally closed covertherefor, said underfire be ing laterally and rearwardly extended tosustain the back and side walls of the fireplace, substantially asdescribed.

et. An underre for fireplaces, consisting of a rigid metal plate havingan ash discharge opening therein, and an ash-chute composed of dependingside walls and an inclined bottom on the under side of and integral withsaid plate, the bottoni of the chute inclining downwardly from the frontedge of the discharge opening, substantially as described.

5. An underfire for fireplaces, consistingof' a rigid metal plateforming the bottom of the fireplace and having an ash discharge openingtherein, an ash-chute on the under sido of and integral with said plate,the bottom ot' the chute inclining downwardly from the front edge of thedischarge opening, and a cover for the opening pivoted at the rear sidethereof and provided with an extension below the plate, to close theopen end of the ash-chute when the cover is raised, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR STRETTON. lVitnesses:

JOHN C. EDWARDS, MARY J. SHERIDAN.

